Golf practice target including ball return means



13.11.27, 1970 H. w. SCHOLIN GOLF PRACTICE TARGET INCLUDING BALL RETURN MEANS Filed June 7, 1968 I N VE/V TOR HAROLD f SCHOL/N By%wn,

- A Nor/lays United States Patent US. Cl. 273179 3 Claims ABSTRACT OF THE DISCLOSURE A golf practice putting target is positioned in front of a ball return device including means for returning a golf ball putted against the front of the device. The target comprises a closed right circular cylindrical wall having a circular front terminal edge or rim. The rear portion of the body is partially relieved away to form a rearwardly extending arm lying in the plane of the cylinder and attached to the ball return device to hold the body in front of the device with its axis normal to the front of the device. A golf ball putted toward the target may enter the circular rim and travel through the body and along the rearwardly extending arm against the device, after which it is returned through the target to the putter.

The present invention relates to practice putting apparatus and more particularly to a new and improved practice putting target used in conjunction with a golf ball returning device such as the device disclosed and claimed in co-pending application Ser. No. 600,967 filed Dec. 12, 1966.

It is an object of the present invention to provide new and improved practice putting apparatus.

Another object of the invention is to provide an improved target adapted to be attached to a golf ball returning device by means of a rearwardly extending arm, the arm also serving as a ramp for the travel'of a putted ball to and from the device.

Still another object of the invention is to provide a practice putting target of simplified and inexpensive construction.

In brief, the above and other objects and advantages of the present invention are achieved in one embodiment of the invention by the provision of a practice putting target for use with a golf ball returning device of the type having means for returning a golf ball which is putted against the front of the device. For example, one such device is disclosed in the above identified co-pending application.

In accordance with the invention, the target includes a closed circular cylindrical body having a circular front rim or edge toward which a golf ball is putted and a passageway extending from the rim through the body. The body is positioned over the putting surface and in front of the ball return device by means of an arm extending rearwardly from the body and attached to the underside of the device. The arm is formed by relieving away part of the rearward portion of the body so that the arm forms an integral extension of the cylindrical portion and serves as a ramp for the travel of a ball putted into the body in its travel toward and from the ball return device.

Many other objects and advantages of the invention will appear from the following detailed description of an illustrative embodiment of the invention, in the course of which reference is had to the accompanying drawing in which:

FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a practice putting target 3,492,003 Patented Jan. 27, 1970 embodying the features of the invention and illustrated in connection with a ball returning device;

FIG. 2 is a side elevational view of the apparatus of FIG. 1, partly in section;

FIG. 3 is a front view of the apparatus of FIG. 1; and

FIG. 4 is an enlarged, fragmentary sectional view taken along the line 4-4 of FIG. 2.

Having reference now to the drawing, there is illustrated a practice putting target designated as a whole by the reference numeral 10 and constructed in accordance with the principles of the present invention. The target 10 is illustrated in connection with a golf ball return device designated as a whole by the reference numeral 12. The construction and operation of the golf ball return device 12 is not described in detail here, and reference may be had to the above identified co-pending application for a further description. It should be understood, however, that the novel practice putting target 10 of the present invention may be used with ball return devices other than the illustrated device 12.

In general, the device 12 includes a housing 14 including a base or cover plate 16 supported above a suitable putting surface by means of feet 18. As described in detail in the above identified co-pending application, the device includes a swingably mounted plate 20 at the front thereof which swings inwardly when struck by a putted golf ball and which is then propelled outwardly in order to return the golf ball in the direction fromwhich it was putted.

Although the device 12 has proven to be highly satisfactory for the uses for which it was intended, the width of the plate 20 makes it relatively easy for a golfer to putt a golf ball in such a manner that it is returned. The plate 20 has a width substantially equal to the width of a golf cup, and when the device is used in a confined space such as a small room, little challenge is encountered in putting a ball against the plate. Accordingly, it would be desirable to provide an attachment for use with the device for increasing the difficulty of properly putting a golf ball toward the device so that it is returned.

In order to overcome this problem, the novel target 10 of the present invention is provided. In general, the target 10 comprises a circular cylindrical body or wall 22 adapted to be positioned over the putting surface and in front of the ball return device 12. The body defines a passageway 24 passing through the body in a direction substantially normal to the front of the device 12. The passageway terminates at the forward end thereof in a enerally circular rim 26 disposed in a substantially vertical plane. The rim therefore serves as an obstacle in the path of a ball putted toward the front of the device 12, and in order for a properly putted ball to reach the device 12 and be returned it must be putted directly toward the center of the rim 26 and must enter the passageway 24. Accordingly, the difiiculty presented to the putter is increased and as a result the putting skill achieved through use of the device is also increased.

More specifically, the body 22 may preferably be formed from a circular cylindrical length of tube or pipe material. Conveniently the material may be plastic or the like, and may be transparent, as illustrated. The cylindrical wall of the target is preferably thick enough so that the target is substantially rigid. The rear portion of the body is relieved away to form an inclined rear wall 28 providing ample clearance for swinging movement of the plate 20 outwardly from the device 12.

The body 22 is supported in front of the device 12 and above the putting surface by means of a rearwardly extedning support arm 30 (see FIGS. 2 and 4) attached to the base or cover plate 16 by a pair of screws 32. The arm 30 lies entirely within the plane of and is integral with the circular cylindrical wall 22, and is formed by relieving away portions of the rearward end of the body. Since the-arm 30 comprises an extension of the cylindrical wall, its upper surface 34 is trough-like or concave and may function as a ramp for guiding a putted ball entering the circular rim 26 in a rearward direction toward the plate 20. After the ball strikes the plate 20 and the plate is moved outwardly in order to return the ball, the ball moves along the ramp surface 34, through the passageway 24 and away from the target in the direction from which it was putted.

Although the present invention has been described in connection with the details of one particular embodiment thereof, it should be understood that many other modifications and embodiments falling within the spirit and scope of the invention may be devised by those skilled in the art. Accordingly, details of the described embodiment should not be taken to limit the scope of the invention as defined in the following claims.

- What is claimed and desired to be secured by Letters Patent of the United States is:

1. In combination with a golf ball return device, including a housing having a front target defining means, a base adapted to be supported above a putting surface, and a ball return means actuable in response to a golf ball impacting said front target defining means for returing a golf ball; a target attachment comprising a body positioned in front of said target defining means, said body defining an elongated circular passageway at least large enough to permit a golf ball to be putted therethrough and impact said target defining means, the longitudinal axis of said passageway extending in a direction substantially normal to said target defining means, said passageway having a width significantly less than the width of said target defining means, said body defining a generally circular rim having its forward end disposed in a substantially vertical plane and defining the forward end of said passageway.

2. The combination of claim 1, further comprising a support arm extending rearwardly from said body for attachment to the golf ball return device.

3. The combination of claim 2, said arm being disposed in line with said passageway and serving as a ramp for the travel of a putted ball.

References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 2,236,869 4/1941 Daigle. 2,582,290 1/1952 Smith. 3,074,722 1/1963 Davenport. 3,310,311 3/1967 Peeples. 3,310,313 3/1967 Colson 273 3,365,199 1/1968 Scholin et a1.

FOREIGN PATENTS 220,377 8/1924 Great Britain.

GEORGE J. MARLO, Primary Examiner US. Cl. X.R. 273125, 127 

